Second tour, F4s, 43 Sqn, RAF Leuchars. Finally got my name on a canopy. DOF in the tower one evening when one of our pilots called up to inform us that he had a little problem.
It seems the pair he was in were doing night VIDs and the crew that were playing the interceptor had to see whether the target has his probe out or not, which was the indication whether he was freindly or hostile. Fine.
The complete @rse flying the jet with my name on the canopy had just finished being the target and reached forward to retract the probe. The probe switch isn't really anywhaere near the canopy. But, apparently, his watch strap caught on the normal canopy opening lever. So he just pulled his arm back harder. Result: the canopy did as it was told and opened. It was then torn off by the air flow. And fell into the sea.
I advised them to have a pleasant transit back to base.
I spent the next year waiting for a knock on the door from an angry Scottish fisherman with a large piece of bebris in his trawl net.